The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-11-16
Fisidsn and Sshwsb viii Repent Of Their
Acts in the SIats Prison.
fhs Remainder Of the Condemned Anarchists
Mast Dance On Morning.
Anxious Friends al Lat Knew the Fats Of
the Prisoners in Chissga.
fhe Text OF Governor Oglesby's Decision-
The OniOiaI Order OF Communications
In the City After the Decision.

SPRINsFrELD, ILL.,, November i0.-In-
tense excitement prevails here over the
crisis in the sll-absorbing Anarchist case.
The Governor Is closeted ia his Office at the
Mansion and refuses to see any one. A
messenger has just hurried to the Mansion
with the intelligence that Lingg
has blown his head off with q dynamite
cap. The Governor is said to have abb
stained from all expression OF surprise or
horror &C the news. 1t is confidently be-
Heved here that the Governor will COM
mute the sentences Of Fielden, Spies and
Schwab to imprisonment for life or vary
ing terms, or else grant a temporary res
pite to all the condemned men. There is
no longer room for doubt that the case of
every Anarchist who maintains refusal to
ask for clemency is hopeless. Governor
0glesby asked one OF the leading friends
of the Anarchists last evening IL he
thought clemency could reasonably be ex-
pected for q man who refused to ask for it.
This is regarded as q conclusive intima-
ton that no clemency will be extended to
any OF those who persist in refusal to ask
for mercy. Captain Black has telegraphed
friends here that he hopes to secure a pc
tition for clemency this morning. When
this is received he will doubtless at once
wire the Governor of his success in that
direction and ask his Excellency to take
action Just as though the plea were in his
possession. The Governor has not been at
the capitol this morning and will probably
not be in during the day. The indications
are that the decision rendered by
the Governor will be voluminous.
He informed a reporter that his
decision would be somewhat affected by
the news of LiDgg's tragic and desperate
ending. The prevalent belief is that
Lingg's act may prove somewhat prejudi-
cial to the interests of all the other con-
demned men. There is little doubt that
the Governors mind Is made up as to the
general character of his decision. The
friends of the Anarchists here are con-
stantly receiving kilograms from Chicago
friends, but their nature cannot be def
nitely learned, other than they relate 10
Capt. Blacks mission to the Cook County
Jail. 1t is rumored that Gov. Oglesby has
received a telegram from the Anarchists
counsel in Chicago, announcing that Par
sons has signed a plea for mercy. The
Governor refuses to talk on the subject
however, and it is impossible at this time
to substantiate the report. The Governor
has informed the Associated Press repre-
sentative that the first announcement of
his decision would be made with newspa-
per men.
THE eovERNoR's DECISION.
in full in the Anarchist CASE
STATE OF ILLINOIS, !
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, SPRINGFIELD, Lila,
November 10, 1887.
On the goth day of August, 1886, in the
Cook County Criminal Court, August
Spies, Albert r Parsons, Samuel Fielden,
Michael Schvab, Adolpb Fischer, G gorge
Engel and Louis Lingg were found guilty
by the verdict OF the Jury, and afterward
sentenced to be hanged for the murder of
Matthias +. began. An appeal was takeu
from such finding and sentence to the
Supreme Court of the State. That
court, upon final hearing,
and after mature deliberation, uuani-
mously affirmed the Judgment Of the court
below. The case now comes before me by
petition of the defendents for considers-
tion as Governor of the State. If the let
tiers of Albert Parsons, Adolph Fischer,
George Engel and Louis Lingg, demand
ing unconditional release" or as they
express it, Liberty or DEATH" and protest.
| irg in the strongest language against mer-
cy or Communication of the sentence pro-
| nounced against them can be considered
petitions, a pardon, could it be granted,
which imply any guilt whatever upon the
part of either of them, would not be such
| q vindicatlon as they demand. Execu-
tive intervention upon the grounds in
sisted upon by the four above named per-
sons, could in no proper sense be deemed
an exercise OF the constitutional power to
dons unless based upon the belief on my
part of their entire innocence of the crime
OF which they stand convicted.
careful consideration Of the evidence
! in the record Of the trial of the parties, as
well as OF all alleged and claimed for
them outside of the record, has failed to
produce upon my mind any impression
tending to impeach the verdict OF the Jury
or the judgment Of the trial court or Of
all these parties. Satisfied, therefore, as |
am OF their guilt, ] am precluded from
considering the question OF commutation
of the sentences of Albert r. Parsons,
Adolph Fischer, George Engel and Louis
Lingg to imprisonment in the penitentiary,
as they emphatically declare they will not
accept such communication.
Samuel Fielden, Michael Schwab and
August Spies unite in a petition for 'ex-
ecutiye clemency;" FieiSen and Schwao,
in addition, D resent separate and supple.
mentary petitions FOR the Communication OF
their sentences. While, as said above, /
am satisfied Of the guilt Of ell the parties
as found by the verdict of the Jury, which
was sustained by the judgments of the
courts, most careful consideration of the
whole subject leads me to the conclusion
tndt the sentence OF the law as 10 samuel
Fielden and Michael Sch wab, may be
modified as to each OF them in the interest
Of humanity and without doing violence
TO public justice. And as to
the said Samuel Fielden and
Michael Schwab the sentence Is
committed to imprisonment in the pen.
itentiary for life. As to all the other
named defendants, | do not feel justified
in interfering with the sentence of the
court. While would gladly have come
TO different conclusion in regard to the
sentence OF defendants August Spies
Adolph Fischer, George Engel, Albert r.
Parsons and Louis Lirgg, I regret to say
that under the solemn sense Oh the Oh
legations of my office, 1 have been unable
to do so.
RICHARD ]. 0eLEsBY, Governor.
COMMITTING ORDER.
The following is a copy of the instru
meDt, officially committing the sentences
of FieIden and Schwab: